Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-04
SHODDY ARIST0CRATS.
OLD-TiMERS AT WASHINGTON
FILLED WITH DISGUST.

rions of Social Standing According 10
Modern NotiOns-Some OF the Season 8
Guests at the White HOuse-Cleve-
lands Indispensable Secretary.
WASHINGTON, April 3.-The old con-
sentative set of WashIngtonians are
loudly complaining OF the influx of rich
New Workers and the penalty which is
paid for their residence here. Families
OF moderate means find it difficult TO keep
up with the new set, which is rapidly TAX
ing the lead and crowding them to the
wall. The old families Of Washington
may not be very rich, but they are mighty
proud. They belong to the generation
that made genealogy the foundation for
deciding social standing. The pos
session of money is not entirely
overlooked by them, but they can
not adapt themselves readily to
the new order of things, which makes
its possession almost indispensable to
social standing and looks upon family
connection as almost of no consequence
whatever. Money is a necessity to en-
able the old-time aristocrats to live as
their tastes dictate, but unlike most OF
the new set they can under certain con-
tingencies overlook its possession.
From their way of looking at it money is
possess, especially when inherited, but to
have to toll for it is considered vulgar in the
extreme. The tendency TO the spectacular
OF modern society is not to the liking OF
the old time aristocrats. They have been
taught from earliest childhood to detect
the true stamp of aristocracy in other
ways-ways which most people must ad-
NIT are really much better criterions of
of GOOD pedigree than lavish decoration
OF the person and circus-llke paraGing OF
costly possessions. Outsiders are forced
to believe that the ultra-fashi0nabl set
who entertain each other so much do
nothing but dress, come together and
eat. In private conversation with any one
of them, nothing appears to be said that
is bright, entertaining or worth presery-
1ng. From the laDguor and WEAKNESS
expressed, each must find the other an
1nsufferable bore, but then it is the thing
20 be always doing something, and to
have great number of engagements for
all late hours. Among them is to show
themselves at least three times week at
the theatre. The gallery gods know by
sight every swell and married and single
belle of the fashionable set, and in many
cases even the costumes become familiar
sights to them. The old conservative set
do not like this sort of thing. They
appreciate that it eventually disgusts
sensible people. People may say what
they please, but for the eaT-marks Of the
real arist0crat one must look to the old
time families instead of to the birds of
fashion who have sprung into prominence
since mammOn was crowned society's
king.
WHITE HOUSE GUESTS.
Among the most enjoyable events in
the domestic life of the President and his
wife have been the visits OF old friends to
the White House during the past winter.
The Presidents guests during the season
were Mrs. George j. Sicard, of Buffalo,
wife of the Presidents former law part
ner, and Mrs. Charles W. Goodyear, vile
of one OF the Presidents old Buffalo
friends and later member of the CleVe-
land firm. Both ladies were accompa-
MED by their husbands. At several OF
Mrs. Cleveland's receptions at the height
of the season these ladies, who were
guests at the same time, were in the re-
ceiving party, and attracted great
ntrention. The elegance OF their
toilets and their beauty and charming
grace OF manner were themes OF pleasant
comment in the whirl OF fashionable lie
which gathered at the White House on
social occasions or in the circles of pri-
vate life. Mrs. Cleveland's guests during
the season we're Miss Virginia Kings
fofd, an exceedingly charming young
lady, daughter of Thomas Kingsford, of
Q6WegO, the great starch manufacturer.
she was Mrs. Cleveland's class and room
mate at Wells college for four years;
Mise Natalie stern berg, OF Buffalo, an
fBtimate friend from girlhood; Miss Ida
Gregg, also of Buffalo, daughter of
prominent physician, another close friend
and Miss Carlton Rogers Jewett, a friend
from childhood, wife of well-known phy-
sicIan OF Buffalo and daughter OF n. HOl-
land, q lumber merchant. or the Presi-
DENTS family, Miss Rose Cleveland spent
some days ut the Executive Mansion.
The last OF the guests was Mrs. Mary
Cleveland Hoyt, the second eldest sister
OF the President, there being but two
years difference in their ages, she being
the elder. His young life was more asso-
ciated with hers than with any of the
other members OF the family. W hen
Richard Cleveland removed to Holland
Patent to assume the Presbyterian pas
torate of that place in September, 1858,
Mary Cleveland was to be married the
following month to W. Il. Hoyt, now
cashier OF the Fayetteville Bank. Grover
Cleveland, then boy of 16, one morning
started liz carriage with his sister to
drive to Utica, fifteen miles distant, where
she wished to make some purchases
for her wedding trousseau. While await
ing her in her shopping he was overcome
with sorrow by the announcement on the
streets that Richard Cleveland his father,
had died suddenly soon after they had
left their home. The grief-stricken sister
and brother hast4b bed back to the afflicted
home at Holland Patent. When Grover
Cleveland became Governor of New York
he invited his sister Mary, Mrs. Hoyt, to
preside over mis- bachelor household She
complied with his request and spent most
of her time with him at Albany. She
would have come with him TO Washing
ton when he became President but for
the distance between the capital and her
own home at Fayetteville.
CLEvELAND's MAN FRIDAY.
One often hears that Col. Lamont,
President Cleveland's private Secretary,
is power behind the throne. While This
Is not true in one sense, in another 1t is.
Col. Lamont is probably the most valu-
able man in Washington TO the Presi-
dent. IL he should die tomorrow the
Chief Magistrate would lind more diff
Guilty in filing his place than he would a
vacancy in the Cabinet. The private
secretary's duties extend to the pri-
waite part OF the White House, and in
deed it would be hard to say just
where they begin and where they END. 1t
Is he who writes letters for the President
and attends TO his correspondence. This
is his work as private secretary. But 1t
1s Col. Lamont also who receives num-